Tuesday, January 31, 2012

THIS MORNING

At 8 AM Appropriations Subcommittees began discussing budgets for

Business, Economic Development, Labor

Executive Offices/Criminal Justice

Infrastructure/General Government and

Social Services

Senate and House floor debate time is from 10 to noon and caucus lunch is from 12 to 2.

COMMITTEES MEET THIS AFTERNOON from 2-4 and 4-6 PM

AT 2:00 PM

House Education will discuss regional applied technology colleges.

            HB 206 would allow high school students, their parents or guardians to determine whether the student's technical education goals would be better achieved at a regional applied technology college.

            And Under HB 258 secondary school students who do attend a regional applied technology college would be counted in the average daily membership of their sending school districts or charter schools.

In House Health/Human Services

            Under HB 290, an individual, before filing for divorce, would have to complete a divorce orientation course through live instruction, video, or an online provider.

House Business and Labor will consider

            HB 306, setting up rules to allow pharmacies to take back unused prescription drugs.  This would help control unauthorized use and reduce water pollution.

In Senate Natural Resources/Agriculture/Environment

            Under SB 46, "Agriculture Sustainability Investment Funds” would be required for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd class counties and voluntary for smaller counties.  They’d finance purchasing and administering agricultural land conservation easements.

            SB 134 adds three legislators to the State Water Development Commission and makes non-legislative members non-voting.  It also eliminates the requirement that legislative members represent certain river districts.

            AT 4:00 PM

Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions will discuss

            SB 147, which would forbid drivers from following emergency vehicles responding to an emergency closer than 500 feet.

House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice will debate HB 88.  It would not allow the courts to discriminate against a parent based on age, race, religious preference, or gender when deciding child custody.

Sandy Peck
sandypeck@xmission.com